This is a must-visit spot in Tokyo! Whether you visit during the day or evening, the building offers an excellent panoramic view of the city, and the best part is, it's completely free for everyone.
You can take the elevator up to the 45th floor observation decks in both the North and South towers. If you visit in the evening, don't miss the nightly projection mapping show on the building; it’s a truly cinematic experience and one of the best shows in the city. After taking in the views, it’s just a short walk to Shinjuku for great food and shopping. I really loved this place, don't miss it. Usually, the South Observation Deck closes earlier, while the North Observation Deck stays open later for the night views. The plaza between the two main buildings (Citizen's Plaza) gives you the best angle for photos and videos.
The evening projection show at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building was a fun surprise and made the visit worth it. I liked how the weekend displays felt bigger and more impressive, with a few playful themes mixed in. It was also thoughtful that they provided sheets to help keep people warm, which made the whole experience more comfortable.
We went to see the Tokyo light show in the evening- we chose a weekend day as they project the podemos cards show - we liked it so much that we ended up seeing 3 shows in a row - shows differ (check their website) and as they happen every half an hour and last 15minutes, the wait is not huge. There is a artificial lawn plaza where you can sit to watch the show- I recommend it - you can also go into the building and enjoy a high floor free Tokyo city view but you have to come during the week days for this as the building is closed during the weekend
Visited yesterday for the night projection mapping light show and it was really nice for a free attraction. The show started at 7 PM, lasted around 15 minutes, and repeats every 30 minutes (check the official schedule before going). You can sit or even lay down in the small park area to enjoy the view comfortably.
There is also a free observation deck in the building, but the queue can get very long, especially at night. Better visit the observatory in the morning if possible. Overall, a good activity to do when exploring the Shinjuku area.
Here’s the English translation:
It’s worth going to see Tokyo from a different perspective. It’s free, and despite the long queue, the waiting time was shorter than what the signs showed (45 minutes / we waited about 25). There is a light show in the evenings on the building’s facade. Definitely worth seeing at night.
